Loading map...

1963 Map of Shaeffer Ranch

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Shaeffer Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The ranchlands of the Jim Wells and Duval County border are defined by a complex network of intermittent water sources and working livestock infrastructure as they appeared in the early 1960s. Shaeffer Ranch serves as a central landmark in a landscape dotted with essential water features like Mule Tank, Salado Tank, and Javalina Tank. The significance of water management is further highlighted by the Chiltipin Dam No 1 and numerous windmills, including the Blanca Windmill and Romera Windmill, which sustained the area's cattle operations.

Local history is anchored by small settlements and family landmarks such as Mendiates and El Carro. Genealogists may find value in the location of the San Jose Cem near the western boundary or the Villarreal Cem situated near the banks of Javalina Creek. The terrain is deeply grooved by the seasonal flows of Agua Dulce Creek and Amargosa Creek, illustrating the environmental challenges of South Texas ranching before modern development altered the drainage patterns.